The rest of October past by swiftly. Halloween came. A day that held terrible memories for Harry. Of course, he didn't let it show, taking part in decorating the Great Hall with much enthusiasm. Although he did notice Dumbledore staring at him with a sad smile on his face, Harry chose to ignore it.

He even altered his lessons for the day, choosing to teach the students about various creatures and spells related to Halloween. But as soon as he finished his last lesson, he hurried away and floo-ed to his house, and from there apparated to Godric's Hollow.

"Hey…" he said softly, kneeling to place the flowers on his parent's graves, "I'm working at Hogwarts now," he sat down cross legged on the ground, "Dumbledore needed some help in dealing with a student of his and hence asked me to take up the job of a teacher. Hehe, its tiring though. The student Draco Malfoy just won't let me stay peacefully. He's a bit of a troublemaker…" Harry smiled at that understatement, "But- but he's really smart and I actually do like him slightly. Mostly he gets on my nerves though. But I think I'll deal with it, its only for a year. I- well, I wanted to find out more about that night…and this is kind of hindering it. Dumbledore says that it's a thing of the past and I should just let it be. But how can I do that when I know that someone who might've killed you is still living a free life? Mad-eye told me that Voldemort wasn't the one who fired the curse at you two. He was fighting Dumbledore at that time. So if I could just-"

He felt overwhelmed suddenly and tears sprang to his eyes. He hastily made to wipe them away. Every year he used to come here and say the same things, but the case had been closed by the Auror department and Dumbledore refused to divulge any details, saying that revenge was never an answer to anything. Hence, Harry had almost given up on finding the culprit. Whoever it was, dead or alive, he had resigned himself to the fact that he might never find out. But he still kept on saying that he'd keep on trying. That's what kept his guilt at bay.

It was getting late, Harry had to return in time for the feast.

"Bye Mum, Dad…"

Harry checked the time having floo-ed back to his office, there was still some time left for the feast,

"Any more late and you would've missed the feast."

Harry froze at the sound of the familiar cold drawl, "Draco, what're you doing here?"

"Leaving actually," Draco said, placing the books back on the bookshelves. He turned, "I came around an hour back cause I was bored and had nothing to…" Draco's voice trailed off as he noticed the condition Harry was in. He had definitely been outdoors because his skin was ghostly pale and his cheeks and nose were bright pink. His hair was windswept, making it even more messier. But his eyes, they were exceptionally bright, and slightly bloodshot. Green rimmed by red, "do…" Draco finished somewhat lamely, comprehending that most probably, Harry had been crying.

"I'd better get going," Draco rushed on, not liking the murderous look that Harry was giving him that moment, "the notes are in the book." Without even waiting for a reply he swept out of the classroom.

Harry sighed wearily. Draco was the last person whom he wanted to see in such a miserable condition.

The feast seemed to drag on and on for Harry. It wasn't in his nature to mope around just because the day demanded it, but he really wanted some time alone. The endless chatter of students and the clinking of cutlery was just aggravating his condition.

Harry heaved a sigh of relief when Dumbledore announced that it was bedtime. And though he did invite Harry to come along for a nightcap, Harry knew that it was just formality and he didn't expect Harry to come along anyway. So, Harry didn't feel bad about declining.

Harry went back to his office, but suddenly feeling too claustrophobic about the confined space, decided to take a night time stroll. The night was extremely chilly and Harry's breath rose in a mist. Add to it the moon gave an eerie silver glow to everything around.

Harry sat down under the beech tree next to the lake, expressionlessly watching the moon's reflection in the mirror like surface. Never had he felt so lonely in his life. Maybe coming outside wasn't exactly a good idea, the silence just made him feel all the more empty.

"Professor?" The voice seared through the silence, shattering it.

Harry inhaled sharply, not bothering to hide his annoyance, "Malfoy, would you please get your infuriatingly annoying presence out of my vicinity?"

Draco blinked, this was definitely wasn't what he'd expected. He thought Harry would respond with the usual all understanding smile and pleasant tone of voice. He'd been on his Head Boy rounds when he'd seen Potter slip out of the castle. Curiousity piqued, especially after the state he had seen Harry in earlier, Draco had decided to follow.

But this was not was Harry was expecting.

"My, aren't you-"

"Just shut up. I do not have time to play with you, pretty boy. If you think that I actually like dealing with immature bastards like you then you're sorely mistaken. Because I, unlike you have better things to do. Because I, unlike you, do not have a father to whom I can go running to each time I get a tiny little cut. Because I am one of those people who have led less than perfect lives, unlike you!"

Harry had stood up by then, advancing upon Draco.

"You arrogant, arrogant boy with some deluded God complex, I don't care what you try to rile me up, but trust me, none of it is going to work. You know why? Its because I have other more important things on my mind and you're too insignificant for me to even pay attention!" He was right in front of Draco now. Draco looked directly into his eyes, cool silver meeting stormy green. But there was more than anger in Harry's eyes, there was hurt as well. Deep hurt.

"I-"

Harry quelled him with a look and it was then that Draco noticed how hard he was trying to restrain the tears.

"Even you have better things to give importance to. But no, instead of that, you play some childish game of 'Kick the teacher out!' Honestly, do you have such a low opinion of yourself that you'll do such flith just to be their centre of attention! If so then I pity you Draco!"

Harry's words were colder than the night air, and they stung. Draco's ears kept ringing with his words and he could feel himself shatter inside.

"Do whatever you want Draco," Harry's voice had calmed, and he turned around, "I don't care. You're no one." Harry stalked away towards the castle, leaving an empty Draco Malfoy behind.

Draco just stood there, not knowing what to do. A part of him wanted to run after Harry, screaming and cursing, saying that he had bloody no right to say all that. But there was another part of him that had gone completely numb, that simply refused to move. Harry had utterly exposed Draco, making him feel vulnerable and lost.

You're no one.

Harry had termed him insignificant, of no importance, a waste of time. He had dealt a severe blow to Draco's infamous pride.

And that too with just a few simple words.

Whatever Draco believed he was, Harry had made it all to be nothing…worthless. All his life, Draco had thought himself to be a person of significance, to be missed when not around. Then one person just blew it all away, because to Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy was nothing but a spoilt childish brat. Nothing more.

Draco didn't know how or when he stumbled back into his room. It was a miracle, he wasn't caught. He didn't know what to feel, he was seething with anger, he dejected, depressed. Crushed.

In other times, Draco would've just stuck his nose high and ignored it. But it was the intensity with which Harry's eyes blazed when he said it that made it unforgettable, that made the words cute deeper than Draco ever thought possible…

Harry didn't sleep that night. He knew he shouldn't have vented out at Draco like that, but his patience was on its limit last night. He wondered if Dumbledore might somehow find out about it. Harry cringed at that train of thought, Dumbledore would be ashamed of Harry. As the guilt began to seep into him again, Harry tossed and turned thoughout the remainder of the night, trying futilely to get some sleep.

Even Draco hadn't slept that night, musing about what Harry had said. Was he really nothing on his own? Whatever he thought himself to be, was it only because of his father and his surname? The more Draco thought about this, the more angry he became. Maybe it was denial, but he refused to doubt himself because of what some teacher who barely knew him for two months. And yet, as his thoughts on this progressed, he tried to over look and suppress the two facts that absolutely terrified him:

That he knew what Harry had said was true…

That he actually cared for what Harry thought about him…

As his emotions and feelings waged a battle of confusion inside him, Draco tried to get some sleep as well.

Next morning, Draco was in the Slytherin common room, all the students gathered around him.

"Alright," Draco said, trying to sound as authoritative as he could without any sleep, "we're letting Potter be. No more spells, hexes to be thrown at him. No messing with his stuff, nothing. Not that you all didn't do a commendable job of it, but I think its time to stop now."

"Why?"

Draco raised his eyebrows, as a murmur went through the assembled students wondering who had dared to ask a question to Draco.

"Why?" repeated Nicholas Beery, a fifth year student with dark brown hair and cerulean eyes," I mean no offence, but it was all going well till now…"

Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, Nicolas Beery and he got along quite well. In fact, Draco knew that Nicholas would carry on the Slytherin tactics after Draco left. Now, Draco was slightly doubtful of his choice, because no one, absolutely no one ever questioned him.

"I do not have to explain anything to you, Nicholas," Draco replied coolly, "But since I do have some amount of respect for you, let me just say that he's going to be leaving at the end of this year anyway, so it'll only be a waste of our time and effort."

Nicholas looked as if he were about to argue, but the warning looks sent to him by many of the other Slytherins shut him up.

"Lets go," Draco muttered to Blaise and the others standing next to him.

"Draco, I don't think that was the best explanation you could come up with," Blaise said, once they were outside and on their way to the Great Hall, "I mean, if you knew that he was going to leave, why did we continue till now? And just that he's leaving isn't good enough a reason for us Slytherins to stop. You know that…"

"I know," Draco muttered darkly, "but no one would've ever thought about it had that son of a bitch not opened his mouth. Honestly, I didn't think Nicholas would do that."

"Well, you do keep on saying that he's going to carry on what you've started," Pansy spoke up, "He might be trying to prove himself to the others. Show them that he's as good if not better than you."

Draco scowled, "He doesn't even come close. The name Malfoy-"

"-commands much more respect than Beery," Pansy finished for him, smirking, "We know."

Blaise grimaced at the preculiar expression on Draco's face when he stopped mid sentence. Draco hadn't told him why he'd backed off on Potter, but Blaise knew it had nothing to do with the fact that he had asked Draco to…

Right, so now I have exams this week and hence the next update might take some time. And I'll not be replying to reviews either(if you ask some question then please wait till after the seventeenth for me to reply)

And erm…now I'm kinda stuck. Why did I add the whole outburst? Coz it seemed real cool for Harry to blow his lid. And Draco needed some serious ego puncturing. So what ahead? I dunno. The good thing is, I'm at my plot-iest best during the exams, so I'll come up with something!

Review to make me feel all guilty about not having the next chapter ready. :P

Later then!

Cheers!